Architect Eduardo Souto de Moura receives the 2025 Praemium Imperiale Award.
**Portuguese Architect Eduardo Souto de Moura Honoured with Praemium Imperiale Award**
Portuguese architect Eduardo Souto de Moura has been named the Architecture Laureate of the 2025 Praemium Imperiale Awards, joining an esteemed group of architectural greats such as Norman Foster, Richard Rogers, and Zaha Hadid.
The Praemium Imperiale Awards, presented annually by the Japan Art Association, recognise individuals who have made significant contributions in the fields of Painting, Sculpture, Architecture, Music, and Theatre/Film. Previous Architecture Laureates include Paulo Mendes da Rocha, Dominique Perrault, David Chipperfield, and Toyo Ito. Each Laureate receives 15 million Yen (approximately £77,000).
Souto de Moura, known for his refined use of materials like granite, marble, concrete, and timber, began his career working with Álvaro Siza before establishing his own practice in 1980. His approach draws from vernacular architecture, modernist rigour, and a deep engagement with place.
One of Souto de Moura's most recognised works is the Braga Stadium, designed in 2004 by carving it into a former quarry. He has also been honoured with the Pritzker Architecture Prize in 2011, the Wolf Prize in 2013, and the Golden Lion for best project at the 2018 Venice Architecture Biennale, among other accolades.
In addition to the Braga Stadium, Souto de Moura's portfolio includes the Casa das Histórias Paula Rego (2008), featuring distinctive terracotta towers, and São Lourenço do Barrocal (2017), a hotel and winery conversion that continues his interest in preservation and transformation.
The National Youth Theatre, founded in 1956 and recently redesigned by DSDHA to make it more accessible and prepared for future growth, was awarded the 2025 Grant for Young Artists.
The Praemium Imperiale Awards are given under the honorary patronage of His Imperial Highness Prince Hitachi, younger brother of the Emperor Emeritus of Japan. The 2025 recipients in the categories of Sculpture, Painting, Theatre/Film, and Music are Marina Abramović, Peter Doig, Anne Teresa De Keersmaeker, and Sir András Schiff, respectively.
Souto de Moura has also co-designed the Serpentine Pavilion in 2005 with Álvaro Siza and participated in the Royal Academy's Sensing Spaces exhibition in 2014. His work continues to be celebrated for its innovative and thoughtful approach to architecture.
Eduardo Souto de Moura, after winning the Praemium Imperiale Award for Architecture, might consider investing a portion of his £77,000 prize in home-and-garden projects, showcasing his renowned use of materials like granite, marble, and timber, to transform his living space, mirroring his refined style. In his leisure time, he might also explore collaborating with musicians, blending his architectural background with the rhythm and melody of music, enhancing his lifestyle and career.
